Two Degrees of Seperation was the second episode of the Diamond and Pearl series. In this episode, Ash was separated from his Pikachu, due to a battle against Team Rocket. This episode was also where Ash catches his Starly using his Aipom. Also the first episode where meets Paul, who when asked if he saw a Pikachu, rudely commented back and asked for a battle with Ash. The match was supposed to be a 3 on 3, but Ash was low on one Pokémon, due to losing Pikachu. Paul notedly reacted harshly towards Ash because of this. Later, in this episode, Pikachu is found by Dawn, a new trainer who starts out with a Piplup.

Contents

Synopsis

Dawn and Piplup's Pokemon journey is off to a bumpy start! She needs to catch Pokemon, so she can become a great Pokemon Coordinator like her mom, but both she and Piplup are having trouble getting the hang of things. After a Buneary and Burmy get away, Dawn spots a Pikachu and tries to catch it before realizing it belongs to another Trainer. When Team Rocket shows up to claim Pikachu as their own, Dawn realizes that they're up to no good. A powerful attack from Piplup sends the Pokemon thieves packing!

Dawn brings the exhausted Pikachu to a Pokemon Center and calls Professor Rowan to give him an update. Elsewhere, Ash's search for Pikachu takes him to Professor Rowan's lab, where he learns that Dawn has rescued Pikachu--except she's already left the Pokemon Center to find Pikachu's Trainer. And when Dawn calls Professor Rowan again, Ash has already left the lab to find her!

As for Team Rocket, they're now resting and relaxing at a vacation house belonging to James' family. They've also picked a new member, James' old Carnivine. Sadly, once James hears his fiancee is headed his way, Team Rocket must hit the road again. Meanwhile, still looking for Dawn, Ash meets up with his good friend Brock and catches a Starly. But none of them notice the surly stranger who's spying on Ash--a stranger whose identity will soon be revealed...

Trivia

When Carnivine comes out of its Poké ball, it greets James the same way his Victreebel used to: by chomping on his head.

This is so far the only episode where Ash and Pikachu are not together.

Errors

When Dawn calls Rowan, both of the areas they are in are identical on the video even when they are in different areas.

Quotes

James: "There you are you rascals."

Jessie: "Oooo, what's in there huh?"
Meowth: "Something a lot older than me."
James pulls out bottlecaps from the box.
James: "It's my very first bottlecap collection. I've had it since I was a toddling tot of two. To brush them against my cheek. WOW! I can not believe you've been hiding in here all this time."
Jessie: "A Poké ball. Yours as well?"
James: "And how. The very Pokémon I used to play with when we came to Sinnoh. Come on out Carnivine."
A Carnivine comes out and bite James' head.
James: "You see, Victreebel's not the only Pokémon who likes to take a nip at my noggin."
Jessie: "And that is a good thing?"
Meowth: "Wow, sounds like the green galoot's really happy to see ya."